Manchester United v Fulham FA Cup match programme, 02.03.25 by Manchester United Football Club

SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2025

Kick-off 4.30pm • Fifth round MANCHESTER UNITED v FULHAM

MANCHESTER UNITED

24/25 HOME JERSEY

“All parts of the collective working together and driving each other forward is how we get moving in the right direction”

NRuben AMORIM

o matter what our situation, Manchester

United is a club which always has to fight.

On Wednesday evening against Ipswich, everyone saw our determination to battle in a tough situation and pick up an important and deserved victory. Recent weeks haven’t been easy, and when you lose an early goal, turn the game around but then lose a player and concede an equaliser, it is an examination of your spirit. By re-taking the lead, suffering for one another and giving everything to preserve the result, we showed our character. From the start of my time here, I have said that if the players show their willingness to

fight, then the supporters will react and both sides will help each other along. We saw and heard that on Wednesday, when the fans were amazing and gave the players an unbelievable feeling, and the way the players gave everything on the pitch was clearly appreciated by the supporters.

I must also pay tribute to the coaching staff, who are also part of the bigger collective and, after improving in how we defend set-pieces in recent weeks, it was good to see the coaches’ hard work pay off with three goals all coming from set-pieces. All parts of the collective working together like that and driving each other forward is how we get moving in the right direction.

Of course, there is still a lot of improvement to come for us and we will need to show that today as we welcome

Marco Silva and Fulham to Old Trafford. We have had to battle for every second of our FA Cup defence in the third and fourth rounds, and we know that will be the case again this afternoon. This is a difficult tie for us, no question, but the reward of a place in the quarter-finals is huge and that should inspire all of us to show our character and our fighting spirit again today.

MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB LTD

Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Michael Edelson, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE, Omar Berrada, Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc

Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards

A hard-fought victory over Ipswich Town on Wednesday will have the Reds re-energised and raring to go again today as we switch attention to our defence of the FA Cup

KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE

The Reds finished February with a league win in midweek, and we need to take the positivity from that into today’s crunch Cup clash with Fulham...

The Emirates FA Cup fifth round is here, as today we host familiar foes Fulham at Old Trafford.

The Reds are striving to complete one more big step towards a record-extending 33rd semi-final in this competition, and there’s an added importance to the Cup this season: due to our lowly league position right now, nabbing this piece of silverware – or indeed the UEFA Europa League – seems the most likely route into Europe for 2025/26.

We’ve lost just one of our last 21 meetings with Fulham in all competitions, but that one defeat came just over 12 months ago, when Alex Iwobi struck in the seventh minute of added time here at Old Trafford to hand the visitors three valuable Premier League points. Each of our last five matches with the Cottagers has

been settled by just one goal, and our last FA Cup encounter, in March 2023, was very precariously balanced until a penalty and two Fulham red cards (plus a third, for boss Marco Silva) allowed United to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 saunter.

So, in short, we’re in for a real scrap here this afternoon. Fulham have won four of their last five games in all competitions (with each victory a 2-1 scoreline, curiously) and are one of a batch of teams sniffing around the Premier League’s European spots.

But United are showing signs of life and spirit, too. Amorim’s Reds came from two goals down to take a point at Everton last weekend, and then recovered from two defensive mix-ups and a red card for Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu to beat Ipswich 3-2, once again coming

from behind. Dorgu will be suspended for this afternoon’s match, unfortunately, but United can surely build on the resilience displayed in the last two games. Also noticeable was the bond between supporters and players during the nervy final minutes against Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys – Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro and Man of the Match Bruno Fernandes (below) all gestured for more support, and they got it. It’s been a difficult season so far, particularly at Old Trafford. But there’s still so much to play for, and the FA Cup is high on that list.

Let’s keep Wednesday night’s spirit alive this afternoon, and Amorim’s Reds, and not Silva’s Fulham, in the hat for the last eight of the Cup.

Dorgu to serve three-game ban

Patrick Dorgu will miss today’s game against Fulham, plus the upcoming Premier League fixtures against Arsenal and Leicester City, after receiving a red card in our win over Ipswich Town on Wednesday. More positively, the Danish left-back will be free to take part in our upcoming Europa League last-16 battle with Real Sociedad, the first leg of which takes place in San Sebastian on Thursday (a 5.45pm kick-off, UK time). Dorgu has made a good start to his United career, but had to leave the field early against Ipswich when VAR focused on the follow-through to his challenge on Omari Hutchinson.

SET-PIECE

PROGRESS

Harry Maguire’s winner against Ipswich was our 10th Premier League goal to derive from a set-piece this season. The Reds managed just nine in the whole of 2023/24, but have already bettered that tally with 11 matches remaining. All three of our goals against Ipswich stemmed from Bruno Fernandes deliveries, while our Portuguese creator also slammed home a dead ball at Everton last weekend. We’ve prospered in the FA Cup, too: Fernandes’s late, hanging cross teed up Harry Maguire’s winner against Leicester in the last round. Keep it going, Reds…

U21S’ PROMISING CUP RUN IS OVER

Our young Reds bowed out of the club’s first-ever campaign in the National League Cup on Tuesday, being beaten 3-0 by Sutton United. We held the best record in the entire competition after the group stages, with four wins and 12 goals scored, but our young side – much altered due to loans, first-team involvement and Friday night’s FA Youth Cup fixture against Arsenal – fell just short against the experience and attacking ruthlessness of the National League club’s senior players.

Maguire’s

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Jack Moorhouse drives the Reds forward during the cup defeat to Sutton

Dorgu’s VAR-assisted dismissal on Wednesday night means he will miss our next three domestic fixtures, starting today

midweek winner was the second successive home game in which he headed home a set-piece delivery from Fernandes

HARRY’S LATE SHOW

United’s passage to today’s tie was far from straightforward, with Maguire’s last-gasp header clinching a round-four comeback win...

Two ties in, the theme of United’s FA Cup defence has apparently settled on late drama. Having overcome Arsenal on penalties after a nerve-shredding 120 minutes at the Emirates in the third round, the Reds then came on strong in injury-time to overcome Leicester City and secure today’s fifth-round showdown with Fulham.

Visiting manager Ruud van Nistelrooy – back in M16 to a hero’s reception, having represented the club with such distinction as a player, coach and, most recently, interim head coach – saw his side forge ahead in the late stages of a subdued first half, when Bobby De Cordova-Reid was on hand to nod in from close range after Andre Onana had saved from Wilfred Ndidi.

United’s performance only sparked into life after the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho, who terrorised Foxes right-back James Justin throughout a 45-minute cameo. Our no.17 looked to have levelled when he latched on to Manuel Ugarte’s through ball and lifted a finish over Mads Hermansen, only for defender Caleb Okoli to produce a miraculous goal-line clearance, sending the ball against the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.

Garnacho couldn’t be contained for much longer, however, and his dashing wing play teed up United’s

Manchester United 2 Zirkzee 68, Maguire 90+3

Leicester City 1 De Cordova-Reid 42

United XI: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui; Dorgu (Garnacho h/t), Ugarte (Casemiro 90+4), Fernandes, Dalot; Amad, Mainoo (Zirkzee 64); Hojlund

Unused substitutes: Graczyk, Lindelof, De Ligt, Eriksen, Heaven, Collyer

“The crowd are unbelievable here at Old Trafford; they suck the ball in that net sometimes and I think they did that tonight”

– Harry Maguire

equaliser on 68 minutes, Joshua Zirkzee steering into an unguarded net after Rasmus Hojlund’s attempt had ricocheted his way.

The hosts’ control of proceedings grew, with Garnacho (left) dragging a shot into the side-netting when he seemed certain to score. But, just as extra-time loomed for the second successive round, Bruno Fernandes’s high, deep free-kick was met by the towering presence of Harry Maguire at the back post.

The one-time Fox calmly headed home to eliminate his former side in dramatic circumstances, and inch the Reds that little bit closer to a Wembley return.

Old Trafford erupts deep in stoppage-time as Maguire meets Fernandes’s pinpoint free-kick and heads the Cup holders into the fifth round V

FOUR WINS FROM THE TROPHY...

After five ties across Friday and Saturday, the competition’s last-16 stage continues this afternoon, ahead of its Monday-night conclusion in the East Midlands…

United’s meeting with Fulham is the penultimate act of an Emirates FA Cup fifth-round programme that has already featured several top-flight tussles, local showdowns, and the use of semi-automated offside technology for the first time in competitive English football.

Six of the seven ties elsewhere are due to have reached a conclusion by the time play gets under way here, with the other – an all-Premier League duel between Nottingham Forest and at the City Ground – rounding things off at 7.30pm on Monday (live on ITV4 and ITVX in the UK).

It means the last-16 stage –during which VAR also makes its debut in this season’s competition – is bookended by games under the lights in the Midlands, after the schedule

was kick-started by Friday night’s Villa Park encounter between Aston Villa and Cardiff City. Further Premier League-Championship fixtures followed, in the form of Crystal Palace v Millwall and Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle, as the bulk of the matches were played out on Saturday. The all-London affair at Selhurst Park was one of two derby battles to take place yesterday lunchtime, as Preston North End and also went head-to-head early in the day, putting their respective second-tier league campaigns to one side for the weekend.

That was before Argyle looked to add Pep Guardiola’s Blues to their list of top-tier Cup scalps at tea-time, following memorable triumphs over Brentford and Liverpool (left) in the last two rounds. Sandwiched in between the early

Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys complete the fifth-round action tomorrow night as they visit Forest

and late kick-offs was Saturday’s only non-televised offering, as Bournemouth reunited with Wolves at the Vitality Stadium, seven days after they met on the same pitch in the league (Wolves winning that game 1-0).

Today, there’s also a top-flight theme to the only match taking place away from Old Trafford, as Newcastle United and Brighton face off at 1.45pm, both aiming to be one of the eight teams competing in the quarter-finals, due to be played at the end of this month.

For every fifth-round fixture, half an hour of extra-time (and penalties, if needed) will be used to decide games tied after 90 minutes, meaning we’ll know the last-eight line-up by tomorrow night. Here’s to Ruben Amorim’s Reds being a part of it, as the holders bid to win the world’s oldest knockout competition for a 14th time, matching Arsenal’s all-time record.

A match-winning double from Femi Azeez in Millwall’s fourth-round win over Leeds set up yesterday’s lunchtime visit to Selhurst Park and a south London derby duel with Palace

Incredibly, Burnley haven’t let in a league goal since 21 December, and after winning at Southampton in the last round of the FA Cup (while clocking up yet another clean sheet), Scott Parker’s Clarets now visit Lancashire rivals Preston

This afternoon’s home encounter with Brighton represents the third ‘B’ side Newcastle have faced in this season’s competition following wins over Bromley and Birmingham (below)

COLLYER Toby

“This

is where I want to be, this is where I want to play...”

After making his senior bow earlier this season, 21-year-old Academy graduate Toby Collyer retraces his steps to the first team as he chats to UR at a youth coaching session at The Cliff…

Toby, we’re speaking at The Cliff at an Under-8s coaching event. Do you remember what football was like when you were this age? Yeah, I do. I think it was just about playing and enjoying it. You didn’t really think too much about it, whereas now you think about the games, what’s coming up and doing everything right for the game. But at that age it’s just about playing. Just playing and enjoying yourself. You don’t overthink anything, you don’t think about anything in too much detail, you just play.

How did you first get into the sport? What are your first memories?

I think at the start it was just kicking the ball in the garden, maybe aged three – two or three. Just kicking a ball. Then I remember when I first joined school, I then started playing on Saturday with my mates at a club. We didn’t play games, we just went and played mini-games with ourselves, we

didn’t play against teams. It was just playing and enjoying. Those were my first memories.

Did you watch a lot of football on TV as a kid? Who were your first heroes?

Do you know what, when I was younger I didn’t watch too much, but I think that’s because I didn’t have access to a lot of channels to watch it. But then, when I got older, I started watching football. At any moment I could get to watch a game, I’d be watching it, yeah.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given as a youngster, in terms of football?

I’d say the main thing wasn’t what one coach has said to me, but a lot of coaches. They said ‘you’ve got to work hard every day, you can’t have any days off’. I feel like that’s helped me so much, because even if you don’t feel like you’re improving, just from working hard

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every day across the whole year you will have made massive steps. So I’d say that, and then I’d say, when I was an Under-16, when I was in the changing room, there was a quote. I can’t remember who it was from, but I think it said: ‘Talent gets you to 16, character gets you to the first team.’ I’ve always thought of that. You can’t just be good, you need to have something about you and you’ve got to show something else to make that extra step.

And it’s so competitive as well… Definitely. Like I said, when I think of quotes that have stuck with me, that’s one, because I remember when I used to walk into training every day, I used to see it stuck on the board.

We notice that when we see you play as well – that hard-work ethic you’ve got. So you’ve always kept that from when you were a kid?

Yeah, definitely. I think you can’t drop off and if you work hard, it just makes your job easier. It’s just a fundamental, in my opinion.

Just on your journey, you captained England at youth level – so do you see yourself as a leader on the pitch as well, helping others?

Definitely. Communication is a big thing, but as well as communication I’d say I lead by example as well. I always do the right things and try to help my team-mates and myself as much as possible.

“Seeing Garnacho and Kobbie push on to the first team gave me great belief. They were doing what they were doing at youth level in the first team. That’s a great thing to see, it gave me great confidence to go on and do that myself”

You’ve been here three years now. Do you remember your first day at Carrington and what it was like when you first signed?

I do, because I signed and I remember I saw Darren Fletcher. He came and spoke to me, which was obviously a big thing, because he’s a player who I’d say I play like. So to see him come and speak to me gave me great confidence and the belief that I could achieve things at this club. Then I remember after that I went and did a tour of the stadium at Old Trafford. That was a big deal, because I’d never been there before. I remember just walking in and seeing all the trophies –everything the club’s won – and the history, stepping out and just seeing how big it was and being like ‘wow, this is where I want to be, this is where I want to play’.

You’ve obviously always had a drive, but did that make you think ‘I’m going to walk out here one day, I’m going to do it’?

Yeah, it’s good to see those things, because it gives you that extra bit of motivation to do the right things every day and to be your best.

Was it an exciting time to join, as well?

Because we won the Youth Cup just a few months later and players like Kobbie and Garnacho soon progressed to the first team. Did that make you think: ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’

Yeah, definitely, especially when, like you say, we won the Youth Cup. First of all, it was seeing the fanbase turn up. It was like 60-something thousand that turned up for an Academy game [the 2022 Youth Cup final v Forest]. It was incredible. Like you said, seeing Garnacho and Kobbie push on to the first team, yeah, it gave me great belief, because I think the main thing is they were doing what they were doing at youth level in the first team. That’s a great thing to see, it gave me great confidence to go on and do that myself.

Because of our history in the Youth Cup and the history of bringing players through into the first team, there’s always a lot of attention on the youth teams. Did that take you by surprise a little bit as well?

I’d say at the start, yeah, but then obviously as you mould into it, you get to know a bit more of what it’s about. I’d say it’s a great thing, to include young players, and it just proves that if you’re good enough, you’ll get opportunities.

Do you remember the first time you were called to train alongside the first team?

I do. I think it was a matchday-plus-one session, so the day after a game. It was really tough – it always is – because you’ve got to try and match the levels that the players have done in a game. I remember just seeing the players and thinking ‘yes, I want to be here every day’. I think it was my first opportunity to just show what I’m about, and I think I did that really well.

Is it all about catching the coaches’ eyes when you’re given that opportunity?

Making his first midfield start for the Reds in January’s Europa League win over Rangers, a game in which Toby took a moment to think ‘ wow, this is special’

Yeah, just the little things. You don’t have to do anything spectacular but do the little things right and just show what you’re about.

Then it gets to the stage where you progress into the matchday squad. What were your feelings the first time that happened?

I think it was just about a year ago. I remember Fletch rung me and said: “You’ve made the squad, congrats.” I remember being really happy – I called my dad and mum and I was buzzing. It was a great experience going to the stadium, being in the changing room. My first proper experience being around it, for a big game, and I think with experience like that you can keep building on it and you’re only going to get better.

Eventually you made your debut against City in the Community Shield as Academy graduate no.251. You’ve been here around The Cliff, you’ve seen the history – what does it mean to you to be in that same line of succession? To be honest, I can’t really put it into words. It’s unbelievable. Like you said, the history of the club is absolutely incredible. So for me to be a part of that, to say I’ve made my debut and played for this great club, it’s unbelievable.

Do you like learning about the history of the club? You said Darren Fletcher is a hero of yours and you look up to him almost…

Yeah, I think it’s important to know things about the

“The history of the club is incredible. So for me to be a part of that, to say I’ve made my debut and played for this great club, it’s unbelievable”

club. With Fletch, I think with my game, it’s quite similar to his and that’s why it’s great for him to be around, from my perspective, so I can learn from him, always speak to him and get his opinion on things.

After you made your debut, we read some comments from one of your old teachers. He said you were a quiet lad but someone he could tell had the mentality and drive to succeed in top-level sport. Do you think that’s an accurate description and do you think it’s important for a young player to have? Yeah, definitely. I think I always did the right things. I always knew what I needed to do, it was just about staying on the right track and staying focused and doing it.

We’ve seen you play left-back earlier this season as well. Does that show your ability to adapt and do what’s asked of you? I’ll play wherever I’m needed. Whatever the coach asks of me, I’ll do it to the best of

my ability, but I think it’s just about reading the game. The more games you play, the more experience you get and I think it makes it easier to pop into different positions where needed.

After a few sub appearances, you made your first start in central midfield v Rangers. The atmosphere that night was incredible. Will that night live long in your memory? Yeah, I was actually speaking about that the other day. I think it must have been midway through the second half, I remember looking up to the stands just thinking ‘wow, this is special!’ Just little moments like that where I can remember, and I just want to get more of it.

After that game, Bruno said you’re a great example to an Academy player – eager to learn and you’re just going to get better. What do those words mean, coming from him? It’s special, it’s unbelievable. I don’t think you could ask for anything more, for him to say that. It’s great for me to hear stuff like that, because it means I’m doing something right and that’s all I’ve tried to do: do the best I can, help my teammates, help myself and set a good example. ●

Our versatile midfielder takes to the touchline in readiness to play his part in first-team affairs and continue his rewarding journey with the Reds

FULHAM

WINS OVER LOWER-LEAGUE OPPONENTS BRING MARCO SILVA’S COTTAGERS TO OLD TRAFFORD FOR TODAY’S FIFTH-ROUND SHOWDOWN, AND WITH SOME IMPRESSIVE TOP-FLIGHT RESULTS ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON, PLUS AN FA CUP LAST-EIGHT EXIT HERE BACK IN 2023 TO AVENGE, THE PORTUGUESE BOSS WILL HAVE HIS PLAYERS FULLY FIRED UP FOR A LATEST ATTEMPT AT MAJOR SILVERWARE...

Nicknames: The Cottagers

Founded: 1879 (as St Andrew’s Cricket & Football Club)

Ground: Craven Cottage (capacity 27,500)

FA Cup best: Runners-up, 1975

Top achievements:

Second Division champions: 1948/49, 2000/01, 2021/22 Europa League runners-up: 2010

NEED TO KNOW

Determined to end their 146-year major trophy drought, Fulham have gone deep in the cup competitions since their Premier League return two-and-a-half seasons ago. League Cup semi-finalists last term, they took eventual winners Liverpool all the way in the last four, having also led United at Old Trafford in our 3-1 come-from-behind win in the 2022/23 FA Cup quarter-final.

Manager Marco Silva tends to rotate his pack in early rounds, giving opportunities to squad players in need of match sharpness. Back-up centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz has fired three goals in previous wins over Watford (4-1) and Wigan (2-1); returning academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon hasn’t missed an FA Cup minute and set up Muniz’s opener against the Latics; while ex-Red Andreas Pereira then created the winner for Muniz in that game. England age-group internationals Martial Godo and Joshua King – no relation to his namesake, the Norwegian forward who came through the United Academy – impressed enough from the bench against Watford to start against Wigan. Goalkeeper Steven Benda has deputised for no.1 Bernd Leno in both rounds.

“I know that I made 10 changes,” said Marco Silva after the Wigan win. “Sometimes it’s not easy to keep the same consistency in terms of the way to play, but most of the game we did it. It’s a great competition, and it’s for me to decide who is going to be the best solution for each game related to the strategy, the moment, the opposition side.”

TACTICS BOARD

Muniz has led the Cottagers’ Cup goal charge, with his brace in the round-four win over Wigan setting up today’s tie

Latest news from the Cottagers’ camp, plus profiles and tactics...

hard to beat in the league

With European qualification still a possibility in the league after just three losses in 15 top-flight games from the beginning of December, Fulham have a solid strategy. Sixteen of the 22 players signed since promotion had previous Premier League experience, while Calvin Bassey had excelled in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, and all arrive battle-hardened and hungry to prove previous employers wrong.

Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi and the evergreen Raul Jimenez were allowed to leave Arsenal, Everton and Wolves respectively, while Timothy Castagne and Sander Berge were shrewd

With boss Silva expected to select something closer to a first-choice XI today, regular centre-back starters Bassey and Joachim Andersen, plus Bernd Leno in goal, should return to marshal the 47-year-old Portuguese’s 4-2-3-1. Antonee Robinson has developed into one of the top-flight’s best left-backs and offers an overlapping option – no player has put more crosses into the box this season – that few can match, though understudy Sessegnon gives it a good go. Silva demands constant rotations in possession, with first-choice defensive midfield duo Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic dictating tempo by switching play to create overloads in wide areas, and Harrison Reed offers a busy, ball-winning option. Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira often alternate, as the roaming playmaker with the ball and the right-sided central midfielder without it. Jimenez or Muniz start at centre-forward – the former posting a fine 11-goal seasonal haul and the latter shining in the Cup – and both combine mobility with deadly finishing up front.

signings from relegated Leicester and Burnley. Willian returned for a second Craven Cottage spell in January and Adama Traore, another ex-Wolves player, still shows flashes of gamechanging brilliance and was central to the recent comeback win at in-form Newcastle. Fulham have done the league double over top-four contenders Newcastle and Nottingham Forest this term and on Boxing Day won at local rivals Chelsea for the first time since 1979. Silva will hope greater ruthlessness – only Tottenham, Southampton and Brentford have lost more points from winning positions –can yield a European finish or that first trophy.

DEPENDABLE FULL-BACK

Timothy Castagne

The only member of Marco Silva’s regular back four to start both FA Cup ties this season, the experienced 53-cap Belgian right-back struck his second Fulham goal in wrapping up the 4-1 win at home to Watford in round three, highlighting yet another fine season at Craven Cottage. The 29-year-old former Genk, Atalanta and Leicester man is solid defensively and adept on the overlap, starting the previous 13 games in the Premier League, as one of the manager’s most trusted on-field lieutenants.

CUP STRIKER

Rodrigo Muniz

Muniz may have often lost his starting spot in the Premier League to a resurgent Raul Jimenez – no top-flight player has made more substitute appearances this term –but the 23-year-old has taken his FA Cup chances with both hands, bagging three goals in two starts. The Brazilian former Middlesbrough loanee scored both Fulham goals in the last round’s 2-1 win at 2013 winners Wigan – a fine header for which he almost bent his neck double to head back to the far post, and the second a lethal first-time finish running on to Andreas Pereira’s dinked through ball. No player has had more shots in the FA Cup this season than Muniz, who also opened the scoring in the Whites’ 4-1 third-round win at home to Watford, and he’s looking the quintessential all-in-one modern forward. “When you have a chance to start a game like Rodrigo got this afternoon, you have to step in and he did it,” Fulham boss Silva said post-Wigan. “I’m really pleased”. He’ll have been equally pleased with Muniz’s league winner at Wolves in midweek –the no.9’s eighth goal of the campaign.

YOUNG ATTACKER

Martial Godo

Fulham fans had been waiting for Godo to get a first-team chance, and the 21-year-old impressed with a rare start in the last round against Wigan – for whom he played on loan against the Reds in last year’s third round. An England Under-20 international who first broke through at seventh-tier Margate, Godo is a tricky operator at his best, cutting inside from the left, and he came off the bench to set up Castagne’s effort against Watford back in January’s third-round encounter.

THE SQUAD GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS

SO CLOSE TO SUCCESS

Fulham may still be waiting to lift the FA Cup, but the west Londoners boast one of the richest backstories in the competition’s venerable history.

Eleven years after their tournament debut, the club marked their first Football League season with an impressive semi-final cup run in 1907/08. Beginning with an 8-3 shellacking of Luton – still their record away win in the competition – Fulham knocked out First Division Manchester City and the Reds (en route to our first top-flight title) in successive rounds, but succumbed to Newcastle in a 6-0 last-four defeat.

Two seasons after another semi-final defeat, losing this time 2-1 to Sheffield United, the Whites witnessed history in the 1938/39 third round against Bury at Craven Cottage. Ronnie Rooke, a bandy-legged cult-hero striker whose oversized shirt flapped in his wake, hit all six in a 6-0 victory, his trademark low drive from the edge of the box with five minutes remaining setting a single-match club goalscoring record that is yet to be beaten.

Fulham were closer than ever to a final when club legend and future Match of the Day presenter Jimmy Hill gave the Londoners a 2-1 half-time lead in 1957/58’s last four. In what proved to be the nearest that ‘Mr Fulham’, Johnny Haynes, got to winning a trophy with his only professional club,

Bobby Charlton – playing less than two months after Munich – secured a replay for the Reds, who went on to win 5-3 thanks to an Alex Dawson treble. More semi-final heartbreak followed for Haynes in ’61/62, this time at the hands of fellow top-flight side Burnley.

big day out in ’75

By 1975, though, Fulham fans, players and highly regarded boss Alec Stock – whose aphorisms inspired the Fast Show character Ron Manager – had their big day out. Led by former England captains Alan Mullery and the great Bobby Moore (both pictured, right) in the autumn years of their careers, the Whites’ route to Wembley was circuitous. In an era of limitless replays to separate stalemates, Fulham played an FA Cup-record 11 matches – featuring six

replays, three of which went to extra-time – to reach the final. Seven of the near dozen were against fellow second-tier sides Hull and Nottingham Forest, who had appointed Brian Clough a fortnight before the first of four ties in three weeks. A Viv Busby brace, against future European Cup winners Martin O’Neill, John Robertson and Ian Bowyer, eventually did for Forest before victories over Everton, Carlisle and Birmingham – via yet another replay – finally gave Fulham a date at Wembley.

“It was an amazing season,” recalled skipper Mullery. “We played so many Cup games, a number which will never be beaten. We were little old Fulham, we weren’t supposed to go to Wembley. It was very special for me and Bobby Moore to play in a final again, as Wembley was like a second home to us.”

In the 1966 World Cup-winning captain’s 47th and final appearance at HQ, though, Fulham lost 2-0 to West Ham, the club to which Moore had dedicated nearly all of his career but had left 18 months earlier.

Fulham failed to make it beyond the fifth round for

the next 27 years, but some positivity came in 1995/96. The fourth-tier Cottagers beat third-tier Swansea 7-0 in the first round, a result that remains the biggest victory by a club over opponents from a higher division in the competition’s history.

Since a semi-final run in 2001/02 ended via a John Terry goal for west London rivals Chelsea, Fulham have reached the last eight on four separate occasions, most recently two seasons ago against the Reds, who came back from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s opener to win 3-1 here at Old Trafford. Fulham boss Marco Silva was also in charge that day and will be determined to write another famous chapter in the club’s storied FA Cup history to rival Moore, Mullery and co.

Going toe-to-toe with the Hammers at Wembley in ’75

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Don’t miss the Warm-Up! WE ALL FOLLOW UNITED!

Our always popular supporters’ night returns once again next weekend...

The Theatre of Dreams will welcome hundreds of supporters from all over the globe next Saturday, when we host our latest Warm-Up event.

The night before United’s Premier League game against Arsenal, our worldwide network of supporters’ clubs will convene in the International Suite for an evening littered with special guests, Q&As with United legends, meet and greets, photo opportunities with both the men’s and women’s FA Cup trophies, plus live music and giveaways.

Treble winner David May and club legend Gary Pallister will be in attendance, and all supporters’ club members are invited to attend if they are in town ahead of the big match. The Warm-Up starts at 7pm on Saturday 8 March, and tickets are priced at £12 per person.

Our last Warm-Up took place in January, with Mark Hughes and Clayton Blackmore the star attractions on a night where a record 370 fans helped to raise just shy of £5,000 for Manchester United Foundation.

The occasion began less than 24 hours after confirmation of the passing of United icon Denis Law, who received a minute’s applause to celebrate his amazing life and contribution to the club’s history. A book of condolence was also left open throughout

your messages and pictures p 26-30

the evening, for fans to share their memories and tributes to Denis.

“The Warm-Up events offer a unique experience for our fans from across the world to meet up with each other, see old friends and make new ones, while enjoying an evening at Old Trafford,” says director of fan engagement Rick McGagh.

“The passion of our fans from across the globe is one of the many things which makes this football club so special, and we look forward to welcoming more fans to our next event.”

It’s sure to be another enjoyable and interesting few hours at Old Trafford next weekend. So if you are keen to attend next Saturday, contact your local supporters’ club for more information.

United heroes Mark Hughes and Clayton Blackmore were part of the last Warm-Up event where a record number of attendees helped raise almost £5,000 for the Foundation

Old Trafford’s International Suite will again bring fans from around the globe together for an evening of fun and entertainment

MESSAGES for matchday

SHOUT-OUTS!

Happy 18th birthday, Jake Anderson. Lots of love, Mum, Ryan and Lewie.

Wishing a very happy 10th birthday to Max Byrne.

Belated birthday wishes to Kamran Gondal, who turned 11 on 25 February.

Happy 15th birthday, Jac Rollingson. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Old Trafford for United v Ipswich.

Happy 39th birthday to Paul Mulvenna. Enjoy the game. Love from Leeann and your boys.

Hello to Archie and Charlie Mannion, who are attending their first United game today with Ryan Carey, having all travelled from Northern Ireland. We hope you enjoy it!

Happy eighth birthday, Jack Monaghan. He’s football mad and here today from Ireland with dad Stephen.

Charlie Hamby, aged nine, is attending his very first United game today. Welcome, Charlie and family, and enjoy your visit.

a very happy

A very happy birthday for 21 February to Vincent Young, a lifelong Red since the 1960s. With lots of love from Ruth,

Wishing

18th birthday to Lucas Wallace for 27 February. Lots of love from Mum, Dad, Jude and Aunty Lisa-Marie.

Harriet, Alex and Sam.

A big hello to Bakka Mwenda, who is a junior player and student in Uganda. Bakka is a massive United fan and watches from his African home. Here he is with his favourite player, Andre Onana.

A very happy 17th birthday to Ryan Jones for 24 February, and we hope you had fun celebrating at United v Ipswich.

Big birthday wishes to Alfie, who turned 12 on 25 February and came to United v Ipswich to celebrate his special day.

Happy ninth birthday to United fan Oscar

from Northern Ireland, who is visiting Old Trafford for the first time today. Love from Mum and Dad, and all the family. ‘YANITED!’

Isabella Flynn is a lifelong Red who watches all the matches from New York. She can’t wait to go to Old Trafford when she’s just a little older.

Wishing a very happy ninth birthday to Amir for 28 February. We hope you enjoyed visiting Old Trafford for United v Ipswich.

Very

Max and Ben are celebrating their 14th birthdays and will be here supporting United from the

Happy 14th birthday to Shiv Patel for today. Hope it’s a good one at Old Trafford!

Happy birthday to brothers Hazim and Hasan for 21 and 26 February, respectively. Hope you had fun at the United v Ipswich game.

Happy 12th birthday, Charlie Grantham! Lots of love, Aunty Loz and Aunty Steph.

Noah Belmont, aged eight, is a massive United fan from Ireland who recently came to his first Old Trafford game, against Ipswich. We hope you had a brilliant time, Noah.

We’d like to wish a happy sixth birthday to Jacob McGrath for 5 March.

Happy birthday to Joyce for 26 February! Wishing you a wonderful and exciting 22.

Many happy returns to Austin Ulrico. He turns nine in March and is watching today with dad Myles.

Happy 40th birthday for today to Ben Astin. Lots of love from Vicki.

Welcome to Old Trafford, Carter Morris and Harrison Davies. It’s great to have you both here.

Stretford End.

Hall

happy birthday to Michael Maggs, who celebrated turning 93 years young in February.

Happy 15th birthday, Charlie, with love from your mam, dad, and brother, Sonny.

Happy 88th birthday for today to Joyce Parkinson, pictured here with Lee Martin in the Red Cafe. Have a great day, Joyce!

Many happy returns to Jamie Foster, who turns 18 on 5 March. He’s here today and his favourite player is Amad.

A very happy birthday to a special dad, grandad and lifelong Red. Hope you enjoy the match today! Love Nick, Lou and Finley.

‘Shout-out to my ‘extended’ family, Val Rayner (not quite my mother-in-law yet) and Michael Hogan (my other half’s brother), to thank them for their love and support. Hope you enjoyed United

Conor Mooney, seven, and Maisie, 11, are over from Ireland for their second visit to Old Trafford today! Hope you have a great time.

‘Our lovely lady Clove is spending her 12th birthday at Old Trafford for today’s game. Wishing you many “hoppy” returns!’

Wishing a happy 70th birthday to Sue Hope-Borland for 2 March. She’s a season ticket holder and lifelong United fan, coming to her first game in 1971.

Thomas is celebrating his seventh birthday today with his first visit to see United play from the Stretford End. We love this brilliant drawing of Sir Alex by Natalie Kaiurova – amazing work!

A belated happy 70th birthday to Philip Faulkner, with love from all the family.

v Ipswich! Love from Lindsay.’

IN MEMORIAM

The family of Geoff (Pal) Fanning are sad to confirm that, at the grand old age of 95, he passed away quietly with his loving family at his side. Pal was a lifelong United fan and held a season ticket for more than 40 years, along with Jea n, his devoted wife and our beautiful mother. For those who knew him, and to fellow Reds who might wish to donate to a wonderful cause, the family have established a donations page to the Royal British Legion in loving respect to Pals’ Army service – any and all donations would be warmly appreciated: neverforget.tributefunds. com/in-memory/geoffrey-pal-fanning

‘George McCoy (1961-2025) was born in Fatima, Dundalk, as one of six children, including brothers John and Brendan, and sisters Miriam, Patricia and Vera. He met our mum and the love of his life aged 14, marrying her on 29 May 1982. Having earlier joined the Army aged 17, and serving in the United Nations twice, he later left to become a lorry driver and start a family, raising three children: Patrick, David and Nicola. George was a proud, dignified man, and was never far from his family and closest and best friend, Paul Dillon. He was a lover of football and supported United from a young age, particularly since his sister, Patricia, married Reds legend Tony Whelan. Dad was a proud Irishman and patriot but much more important was having a laugh and watching United win. His no.1 priority was taking care of our mother, and sister Nicola, who has special needs. Family was everything to Dad: he loved his wife, children and grandchildren, and would move mountains for us, and we will miss him dearly.’

Tommy Doyle, from Middleton in Manchester, died on 8 February, aged 66. He was an absolutely massive lifelong Red and is missed dearly by all of his family. Rest in peace.

In memory of Stephen Carter (1950-2025), a devoted United fan and player for Middlewich Town FC, whose passing has deeply saddened those who knew him. Stephen’s passion for the Reds was unwavering, and he always spoke with great admiration about Manchester United and the club’s legacy. Rest in peace, Stephen.

‘A true United legend, Alan Baker, recently passed away. A devoted fan from day one, he supported the Reds through every high and low, living through the Munich tragedy and ensuring his family understood the importance of both family and football. One of his favourite players was Denis Law, and in a touching coincidence, they passed on the same day. I can just imagine my grandad at the pearly gates, seeing Denis in the queue and saying his classic line: “Makes no odds.” He travelled all over for United, and my brother and I experienced our first game with him: Sunderland on 22 January 2014. He always said, “Give the youngsters a chance,” and that’s exactly what Amorim is bringing to the team. United is in our blood because of him. We love you, Grandad.’

Lifelong Red Peter Wragg sadly passed away on Christmas Day, aged 78. A successful manager at many non-league clubs in the North West in the ’80s and ’90s, most notably Macclesfield Town, ‘Wraggy’ became a familiar face to players and staff at Old Trafford in later years, working for Premier League sponsors. Condolences from everyone here at Manchester United.

Manchester United would like to express our sincere condolences at the sad loss of Malcolm Beddoes, on 1 February, aged 85. He attended hundreds of matches with his son, Graham, grandson Alex and other friends and family. Matchdays for Graham, family and friends will never be the same again. Sleep in peace, Mal.

In loving memory of Darren Lightbody (1971-2025), a devoted father and lifelong Manchester United fan. After bravely battling cancer, Darren never stopped smiling, always putting his family first. His passion for the Reds was matched only by his strength and unwavering optimism. Though he’s no longer with us, his love, spirit, and legacy will forever remain in our hearts. Once a Red, always a Red. Rest in peace.

#13 Patrick Dorgu

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OLD TRAFFORD’S GREATEST CUP COMEBACKS 9

After fighting back to overcome Leicester City in round four, United Review revisits and ranks the Reds’ 10 finest come–from-behind FA Cup wins here in M16...

UNITED 3 LIVERPOOL 2

Season: 2020/21

Stage : Fourth round

Falling behind: With stadiums nationwide still bereft of fans due to the ongoing pandemic, a hauntingly empty Old Trafford watched on in pin-drop silence as Mohamed Salah chipped Jurgen Klopp’s side into an 18th-minute lead at the Scoreboard End. The turnaround: Parity was soon restored in an ebbing, flowing tie as Mason Greenwood drilled in from Marcus Rashford’s crossfield pass. United’s no.10 put the hosts ahead early in the second period after racing clear, only for Salah to level for the visitors 10 minutes later, setting up a grandstand final half-hour.

Dean Henderson denied both Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold at close quarters before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side definitively forged ahead 12 minutes from time through Bruno Fernandes’s masterful low free-kick.

Leading to: There would be more late drama in the fifth round, with Scott McTominay rifling home an extra-time winner against West Ham at Old Trafford, but the Reds’ run came to an end in the quarter-finals with a 1-3 reverse at Leicester City.

# 10 # 9

Fernandes prepares to sweep home the clincher from the edge of the area and propel the Reds into the fifth round

UNITED 2 ASTON VILLA 1

Season: 1976/77

Stage : Quarter-final

Falling behind: Though Tommy Docherty’s Reds were in a rich vein of form going into a tough last-eight encounter with Ron Saunders’s Villans, Old Trafford was quickly shown the scale of the task at hand when Brian Little drilled in a 25-yarder inside the opening minute. Having won 11 and drawn two of the previous 13 games, however, United were far from flustered. The turnaround: It took a powerful free-kick from Stewart Houston to haul the Reds level after 25 minutes, but thereafter an open game swung wildly from end to end, with both sides counterattacking. Just as thoughts of a replay emerged, Stuart Pearson’s expert pull-back fell perfectly for Lou Macari to slam home a 76th-minute winner which sent Old Trafford wild. Leading to: A nerve-shredding semi-final at Hillsborough went United’s way, thanks to an early one-two from Jimmy Greenhoff and Steve Coppell, before a legendary Wembley victory over Liverpool secured the Cup for the Doc’s side.

Villa keeper John Burridge is forced into action as United forward Jimmy Greenhoff lurks with predatory intent

UNITED 3

WEST HAM UNITED 1

Season: 2022/23

Stage : Fifth round

Falling behind: After a goalless first half, the visitors forged ahead in controversial circumstances on 54 minutes as Tomas Soucek seemingly ran the ball out of play, prompting

three United players to stop in their tracks. West Ham took spectacular advantage as play continued, with Said Benrahma drilling a brilliant finish past David De Gea. The turnaround: Stunned by the nature of the opener, it took the Reds time to recover their composure, with a devastating late flurry turning the tie on its head. With 13 minutes to go, Nayef Aguerd nodded home an own-goal from a Bruno Fernandes corner and, as the final seconds of regulation time ticked away, Alejandro Garnacho curled in a sublime second at the Stretford End, before Fred steered in a last-gasp third to wrap up a breathless late comeback. Leading to: Another home tie against top-tier opposition beckoned, with Marco Silva’s Fulham next up in M16 for a quarter-final showdown.

UNITED 2 BURNLEY 1

Season: 1964/65

Stage : Fifth

round

Falling behind: Having lifted the 1963 FA Cup, United’s post-Munich fightback continued apace in 1964/65 as Matt Busby’s side led the First Division while motoring along in the Cup. A packed Old Trafford anticipated a tough afternoon against Harry Potts’ well-drilled Burnley side, and so it proved when Andy Lochhead nudged the visitors ahead shortly after the quarter-hour.

The turnaround: Burnley were content to threaten on the counter, but Busby’s side gamely stuck to the task and sent Old Trafford into rapture with a one-two salvo in the space of two late minutes; George Best – despite the temporary loss of a boot – crossing for a spectacular Denis Law overhead on 81 minutes (above), then unlikely hero Paddy Crerand thundering in a 30-yarder just moments later. Leading to: The Reds’ fighting spirit was on show in the quarter-final, where Wolves were beaten 5-3 after taking a two-goal lead at Molineux, but hopes of a domestic Double were dashed by title rivals Leeds in the semi-final.

Garnacho races off in celebration after expertly steering in the first of the Reds’ late tie-deciding strikes

An own-goal on 77 minutes eases home tensions inside Old Trafford

Fred adds the gloss to a dramatic Cup turnaround

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UNITED 2 FULHAM 1

Season: 2003/04

STAG E : Quarter-final

6

Falling behind: Fulham had already stunned Old Trafford in the Premier League with their first triumph in M16 in over 40 years, and home nerves were set jangling again midway through the first period. An uncharacteristic lapse from Roy Keane and an overzealous challenge from Wes Brown conspired to give Steed Malbranque the chance to drill home a spot-kick. The turnaround: Though Sir Alex Ferguson’s evolving side had been unpredictable following the loss of Rio Ferdinand to suspension, the goalscoring threat of Ruud van Nistelrooy seldom wavered. The Dutchman needed just two minutes to haul the Reds level, emphatically stabbing home after a superb combination from Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and United’s no.10 converted again from a similar position just after

# 5

the hour, sliding in Cristiano Ronaldo’s centre. Leading to: Though van Nistelrooy joined Ferdinand on the sidelines for an imposing semi-final clash with champions-elect Arsenal, the Reds dug deep to grind out a thrilling 1-0 win at Villa Park before steamrollering Millwall in the final.

UNITED 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1

Season: 1995/96

Stage : Fifth round

Falling behind: United’s reward for overcoming second-tier Sunderland and Reading was an enticing Manchester derby on home turf, where visitors City were winless in almost 22 years. Nevertheless, the away fans were soon writhing in delight when Uwe Rosler strode through on goal and chipped Peter Schmeichel with less than 12 minutes on the clock.

The turnaround: A fractious affair played out in an electric atmosphere, and United were handed a route back into the tie just before the break when Eric Cantona stroked home a penalty. Just as a Maine Road replay began to hove into view, the hosts moved into a decisive lead on 78 minutes when Phil Neville’s left-wing cross was emphatically thudded home on the volley by Lee Sharpe. Leading to: Southampton and Chelsea were both seen off in hard-fought quarter and semi-finals before Liverpool were ousted at Wembley, securing United’s second domestic Double in three seasons.

A celebratory embrace for Cup hero van Nistelrooy after he fires the Reds into the semis with his second (below)

Steve Bruce evades a lunging tackle from Niall Quinn as the Reds march on to Cup glory

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# 4

UNITED 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

Season: 1998/99

Stage : Third round

Falling behind: Just 15 days after inflicting a shock Premier League home defeat on the Reds, Bryan Robson’s Middlesbrough pitched up in M16 and were seemingly at it again, taking the lead early in the second period when Andy Townsend’s opportunistic effort rolled inside Peter Schmeichel’s far post. The turnaround: While it had taken a three-goal deficit to spark United into life in the Teessiders’ earlier league visit, Townsend’s opener clearly galvanised the hosts at a baying Old Trafford. With 22 minutes remaining, Andy Cole bludgeoned home a deserved leveller and thereafter only one outcome awaited. Incessant United pressure culminated in Denis Irwin slotting in a penalty won by Nicky Butt, before Ryan Giggs capped a superb display by drilling in a brilliant late third.

Leading to: United’s rousing first victory of 1999 would set the tone for so much of what would ultimately follow – not least the tantalising fourth-round visit of Liverpool…

3

UNITED 3 FULHAM 1

Season: 2022/23

Stage : Quarter-final

Falling behind: After a largely uneventful first half, the Cottagers took control of the tie early in the second period as Aleksandar Mitrovic drilled in when Andreas Pereira’s corner had been helped on. Soon afterwards, it took an unbelievable save from David De Gea to keep out the Serbian’s looping header as the visitors tightened their grip on proceedings.

The turnaround: Having hung on, United found a route back into the conversation with 15 minutes to go, in unexpectedly dramatic fashion. A counterattack ended in Willian handling Jadon Sancho’s goal-bound effort on the line, after which the Brazilian’s red card prompted further dismissals for Mitrovic and boss Marco Silva. Bruno Fernandes’s penalty equaliser rendered the outcome thereafter inevitable, with Old Trafford roaring home the Reds as Marcel Sabitzer flicked in a brilliant effort (left) and Fernandes thundered home a last-gasp clincher.

Leading to: Beset by absenteeism, United overcame Brighton in a nerve-shredding semi-final penalty shoot-out before ultimately falling short against Manchester City in the final.

The skipper powers home a late third to set the seal on our semi-final involvement

Irwin celebrates converting the penalty that turned the tie in the Reds’ favour

Wild scenes fill Old Trafford as Solskjaer’s stoppage-time winner instils a comeback theme to our Treble charge in 1999

UNITED 2 LIVERPOOL 1

Season: 1998/99

Stage : Fourth round

Falling behind: With Old Trafford packed and the presence of a huge away support lending to a fervent atmosphere, the first goal of a titanic tussle seemed to be key. Unfortunately for United, it came inside three minutes when an unmarked Michael Owen headed home at the Stretford End, much to the hosts’ collective chagrin. “It was a terrible start,” Alex Ferguson later growled. “God almighty, you wouldn’t think a 5ft 6in striker would score with a header in the first minutes at Old Trafford. I wasn’t too pleased with that.” The turnaround: Despite the nightmarish start, United remained composed. Roy Keane’s header thudded against the inside of David James’s upright in the first half, then the skipper had a second-half right-footer deflected agonisingly wide before he saw his left-footed effort crash against the Stretford End upright. Amid the growing pressure, Sky Sports co-commentator

Andy Gray mused aloud: “Does this tell us it’s Liverpool’s day, I wonder?” Nearly. But not quite. With just under two minutes of normal time remaining, Andy Cole headed David Beckham’s free-kick into the path of Dwight Yorke for a simple tap-in. “Then everything changed,” recounted the Trinidad and Tobago striker. Just three minutes later, at the start of the second minute of injury-time, Jaap Stam’s long ball forward found Paul Scholes inside the Liverpool area, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer duly

Neville refuses Owen another sniff of goal after the Liverpool man’s early breakthrough

The Norwegian strokes home the decider not long after his 81st-minute introduction

took charge. Having not previously touched the ball since his 81st-minute introduction, the Norwegian stole possession, set himself and arrowed a low finish through Jamie Carragher’s legs to set Old Trafford into a state of deafening euphoria which would continue for the remainder of the season.

Leading to: Everything. Having turned a huge game around in the dying seconds, United were well-versed in rescuing apparently lost causes, culminating in English football’s first Treble success secured in mind-blowing fashion against Bayern Munich. Though only in the fourth round of the FA Cup, the victory over Gerard Houllier’s men became a seminal moment in an historic campaign. “The season really started with the Liverpool game,” stressed Gary Neville. “Coming back against them in the last minute in the FA Cup was massive. From then on, everybody was at it.”

WHAT IS STYLE?

Old Trafford holds its breath before erupting into a cacophony of joy as Amad’s placed effort finds the back of the Liverpool net with only seconds of extra-time remaining

A late intervention from Antony sets up more extra-time drama in the Cup

UNITED 4 LIVERPOOL 3 (

AFTER EXTRA-TIME )

Season: 2023/24

Stage : Quarter-final

Falling behind: Although a bright start from United culminated in Scott McTominay prodding home a close-range opener after 10 minutes, efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah in the dying embers of the first half had Liverpool ahead at the interval inside a shellshocked Old Trafford. Jurgen Klopp’s side cautiously controlled much of the second period, coming close to extending their lead when Darwin Nunez was twice thwarted by Andre Onana but, with the 90th minute nearing, Alejandro Garnacho led a United raid from which Antony spun and steered home a well-taken leveller at the Stretford End. Then, with the final kick of the 90 minutes, Marcus Rashford steered narrowly off-target to spare

Liverpool, who duly exploited that opportunity when Harvey Elliott’s deflected shot skidded home in the first half of extra-time. With the Premier League campaign already drifting to a mid-table close and both the Champions League and Carabao Cup long exited, United had 15 minutes in which to salvage the season.

The turnaround: For neither the first nor last time, the sight of the odds stacked high brought out the best in the Reds, who clawed back parity once again when Rashford slid home an unerring finish from McTominay’s threaded pass with just eight minutes of extra-time remaining. “I have been involved in this kind of game before,” Ten Hag later reflected, “but when it’s Manchester United against Liverpool, one of the world’s greatest football matches, I think it’s historical.” With the looming lottery of a penalty shoot-out increasingly likely, both sides continued to press for the game’s next goal, the closest call coming when McTominay slid Rashford’s centre fractionally wide of the Stretford End upright. Breath was collectively held, however, when Liverpool won a corner with little more than 30 seconds of the extra period remaining.

Temporary relief was provided when McTominay powerfully headed clear Kostas Tsimikas’s out-swinger, but the muted tension quickly roared into collective blood-baying as Amad dispossessed Elliott, 30 yards from Onana’s goal. As Garnacho took up possession, the Ivorian ran goalwards alongside him, the pair fronted only by lone defender Conor Bradley. Drawing the Northern Irishman one way, Garnacho slipped the ball the other to Amad, who fashioned an angle for a shot with one touch, then threaded a finish into the Stretford End net with his second.

Six seconds into the game’s 121st minute, the Reds had twice come from behind, moving into the semi-finals, eliminating the oldest of enemies, in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. Old Trafford became a core of noise and motion, hosting one of the longest, loudest celebrations since its construction. For those not consumed by the feral scenes inside the stadium, ITV commentator Sam Matterface conveyed the mood to viewers around the world, falling silent to let the noise speak for itself, then bellowing: “A comeback of monumental proportions!” Leading to: There were, of course, two more rounds to navigate for Ten Hag’s side and, in customary fashion, both were laced with drama. A three-goal lead was squandered against second-tier Coventry City in the semi-final before blushes were spared by a shoot-out success, only for the Reds to once again bely underdog status by turning in the most accomplished performance of the season against Manchester City in the final, deservedly producing a 2-1 Wembley victory which will live forever in club folklore. ●

10 Cole fires our Cup run

United and Fulham have met 15 times in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition prior to today, with Old Trafford hosting five of those ties – including the fifth-round clash of Valentine’s Day 1999 that provided this goal celebration shot.

The image shows the provider of the assist, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, high-fiving goalscorer Andy Cole after the pair had combined for the only strike of the game, netted in the 26th minute. On a wet, bobbly Old Trafford pitch this turned out to be the only real moment to remember: Nicky Butt’s deep cross to the far post being pulled back for the lurking Cole, with our no.9’s shot finding the far corner via a deflection off Fulham defender Chris Coleman (much to the bemusement of his team-mate Steve Hayward, pictured far left).

United stopper Peter Schmeichel pulled off saves from Steve Finnan and John Salako in the second half, but the Reds’ passage to the quarter-finals was secured comfortably –another step towards Wembley and, ultimately, the Treble being taken without any real alarms.

One group of Fulham fans were no doubt left regretting their decision to unfurl a banner reading ‘Andy Cole – Fulham reject’ in the away section before the game, a reference to a loan spell he’d spent with them while an Arsenal player (scoring four goals in 15 games). The striker would play for them again in 2004/05, this time scoring 13 goals in 39 appearances.

ENFORCING THE RULES!

Female participants tackle half-term refereeing course in enthusiastic fashion

“Captains, please!” That’s the common shout from a match official before a game kicks off, although it’s one you’ll struggle to hear from the stands inside a packed-out Old Trafford.

But as a female group of Manchester United Foundation participants discovered recently, on a rain-sodden afternoon at nearby Eccles Sixth Form College, communication is a key quality required of any referee – and it’s not the only piece of dialogue they were practising.

As part of a refereeing qualification being delivered by the Manchester Football Association, the youngsters learned the distinctions between the different signals that are used by a match official during a game, including practising the calls they must make to award a penalty, free-kick, offside decision and plenty more.

Participants from across the Foundation’s programme – including those who attend the Street Reds community football sessions, as well as the Foundation’s partner high schools – initially learned the theory behind officiating within the classroom, before they were given the chance to put it into practice on the pitch.

“We’re learning the rules and laws of the game and how to referee at different levels,” explained Xante, a pupil at Dean Trust Ardwick.

“There is a lot of stuff that I didn’t know, even coming down to basic offsides and all 17 laws of the game. It was quite interesting and I learned a lot, it was enjoyable. After I’ve got this qualification, I can referee in grassroots games so it will help me earn some experience.”

Amelia, who attends and volunteers at the Street Reds project in Stretford, added: “I’ve been doing my refereeing course over the past two days; it ensures I get my qualification and have another pathway in the future. My

Participants from Foundation projects take to the pitch at Eccles Sixth Form College to learn all aspects of officiating, including when to blow the whistle (left) and how to run the touchlines with the correct flag signals

understanding is a lot clearer and, for example, I now know how to signal for a direct or indirect free-kick. It gives me more experience for what I want to do in the future.”

Lily-Jade, also involved in Street Reds, this time at The East Manchester Academy session in Beswick, feels the course will bring wider benefits, saying: “I’ve refereed in some tournaments with the Foundation before, but not in any matches. It’s a really enjoyable role; the

game can’t be played without a referee. We’ve been learning about how to deal with different situations, which has been helpful with all those different skills because they are things you use elsewhere, not just in football. You understand the role more and learn some inside details.”

Congratulations to all 23 participants who earned their refereeing qualification as part of this course – we wish you luck with your officiating endeavours in the future!

STAYING SAFE WHEN ONLINE

Participants from the Foundation’s targeted intervention Street Reds sessions recently spent time at Hotel Football with Greater Manchester Police, to learn about cyber security.

Staff and officers from the local cyber crime unit supported the young people with activities designed to help them stay safe online. Seth Wyatt, community engagement coordinator for the Foundation, said: “The programmes we deliver aren’t just about football, so a day like today has been perfect to help educate our young people about staying safe online.

“The group were really engaged, they’ve all taken some learning away. For us to provide an opportunity where they get that learning outside of school is really important.”

HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES

Foundation participants were kept plenty busy during February half-term, with a host of activities running throughout an action-packed week.

The Street Reds participants were spread far and wide, most notably taking part in a tournament hosted by Everton in the Community, ahead of the Toffees’ and the Reds’ final Goodison meeting.

Participants also travelled to Bury’s Gigg Lane for a tournament, while taking part in another event closer to home, alongside the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. All that plus an inspiring showcase of talent as part of a football festival for the girls involved with the Foundation’s Emerging Talent Centre.

Holiday camps were also arranged at four Foundation partner high schools, providing the opportunity for participants from the inclusive programmes to complete the Multi-Skills Activator qualification through Street Games, after meeting and putting their questions to former Red, and Foundation delivery officer, Tom Thorpe.

Sophie Newburn, cyber project officer for GMP, said: “Fraud and cyber crime accounts for around 40 per cent of all recorded crime in the UK and statistics show that 50 per cent of all fraud and cyber crime is preventable, for those armed with the right knowledge.”

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Former Red and Foundation delivery officer Tom Thorpe helps bring an extensive half-term events programme to Foundation participants

The Street Reds youngsters learn about the importance of online safety from Greater Manchester Police

Story behind the shot

Club photographer Ash Donelon (above) visits Goodison Park for the final time and withstands some boisterous Blues to capture Bruno’s celebratory moment...

END OF AN ERA

Image taken: Saturday 22 February 2025, Goodison Park.

Ash says: “As a club photographer for the away team, Goodison Park is easily the most hostile venue to work at in the Premier League, but I’ll still miss going there. At most stadiums there’s usually a physical boundary between supporters and photographers, whereas in the Gwladys Street End the snappers are effectively sat in the stands among the fans, so it’s definitely not a place to be caught wearing red! Although I’d donned generic black adidas clothing to hide my allegiance, I had my lens trained on the visiting players, so it didn’t take long for the Evertonians around me to recognise I worked for the enemy, and they gave me some choice words and even blocked my lens with their hands when United scored! I didn’t care though, as I still got the shots I wanted, including this one of Bruno Fernandes celebrating towards the away corner after his superbly placed free-kick. Despite the antagonism, it was an exhilarating atmosphere, and I hope Everton’s new home retains some of the character that made Goodison Park special.”

FRED THE RED

FRED’S RED PUZZLES

Our mascot is here to test your knowledge! Answers at the bottom of each page...

MISSING MEN

Can you remember the trio of Reds that complete the XI from our previous FA Cup meeting with Fulham, in 2023?

MEET THE MASCOTS

We hope you enjoy your big day at the Theatre of Dreams!

MISSING MEN: 1. Harry Maguire; 2. Marcel Sabitzer; 3

SCORER SEARCH

CUP CONUNDRUM

We’ve previously faced four of the teams to the right in at least one FA Cup final – can you pick them out?

Can you name the (pixelated!) players who got the Reds’ opening goal in each of these FA Cup ties last season?

SEARCH: 1. Casemiro; 2. Scott McTominay; 3. Alejandro Garnacho.

CUP

CONUNDRUM: 1. Arsenal (1979, 2005); 2. Crystal Palace (1990, 2016); 3. Liverpool (1977, 1996); 4. Newcastle United (1999).

WORLDWIDE WINNERS

Can you match these current Reds to other countries where they’ve won a domestic cup?

PLAYED FOR BOTH

These players all appeared for both United and Fulham – put them in order of their last game for United, starting with the most recent…

TRUE FALSE? OR

Can you get five out of five?

United have appeared in more FA Cup finals than any other team.

The Reds’ first won the FA Cup in the 1800s.

The team United have played most in finals is Manchester City.

The FA Cup winners qualify for the Community Shield.

United have won an FA Cup final outside of England.

TRUE OR FALSE?:

FOR

WORLDWIDE WINNERS:

ANSWERS

1. Amad: Scotland; 2. Casemiro: Spain; 3. Victor Lindelof: Portugal; 4. Manuel Ugarte: France; 5. Joshua Zirkzee: Germany.

PLAYED

BOTH: 1. Chris Smalling (2019); 2. Dimitar Berbatov (2012); 3. Edwin van der Sar (2011); 4. Louis Saha (2008); 5. Andy Cole (2001).

1.True; 2. False (1909); 3. False (Chelsea); 4. True; 5. True (in Wales, in 2004).

Unlocking the power of pitches

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s charity. We award grants and work with partners to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities across England.

Search Football Foundation to find out more

Also available at all Old Trafford kiosks and Megastore

United player appearances p 63 / Season fixtures and results p 64-65

STATS AT THE BACK CUP HOT STREAKS

Reaching the last two finals makes our current spell one of the most impressive in club history in this competition, but not the finest – here’s a look back at our best FA Cup eras...

1957-58

Two finals in two years

The Busby Babes were beaten in successive Wembley finals against Aston Villa (1-2) and Bolton Wanderers (0-2), the latter coming just three months after Matt Busby’s squad was decimated by the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.

1976-79

Three finals in four years (one win) United reached the Wembley showpiece three times in four years in the late 1970s, famously denying Liverpool the Treble with a 2-1 victory in May ’77, just a year after a shock final defeat to Southampton. A dramatic 2-3 defeat to Arsenal followed in ’79.

1983-85

Two finals in three years (two wins) Ron Atkinson’s Reds recorded a 4-0 replay win against Brighton in the 1983 final, and then reclaimed the famous trophy from holders Everton (Cup winners in ’84) two years later, when Norman Whiteside’s unforgettable extra-time winner enabled 10-man United to down the Toffees 1-0, following Kevin Moran’s red card.

1994-99

Four finals in six years (three wins) Everton avenged that result in 1995 with their own 1-0 win – a blemish sandwiched between Sir Alex’s team completing league-and-cup Doubles with triumphs over Chelsea (4-0 in 1994) and Liverpool (1-0 in 1996), before 1999’s success against Newcastle formed part of the Treble.

2004-07

Three finals in four years (one win) Our 2004 triumph against Millwall (3-0) and 2005’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Arsenal were played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, before Chelsea edged us out (1-0) in the very first final played at the new Wembley in 2007.

2016-18

Two finals in three years (one win) We were back under the arch nine years later, as Louis van Gaal’s men beat Palace 2-1 after extra-time, before Chelsea got the better of Jose Mourinho’s Reds with a 1-0 win in the 2018 final.

2023-PRESENT

Two finals in two years (one win) City got the better of us in the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final in 2023 via a 2-1 win, but the scoreline was reversed when United defeated City in last year’s repeat, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

The two Jimmys, Nicholl and Greenhoff, join Alex Stepney in the Cup euphoria of ’77

Norman Whiteside is the man of the moment as he settles our 1985 battle with Everton

Last year’s final saw the Reds avenge our 2023 defeat to City

APPEARANCES & GOALS, 2024/25 SEASON

Matthijs de Ligt netted his first Old Trafford goal in our 3-2 midweek league win over Ipswich Town, the close-range strike being the defender’s second United goal. His maiden Reds strike came at Southampton back in September.

UNITED CAREER STATISTICS

Harry Maguire’s winning goal in the fourth round against his old club Leicester City (above) was his fourth FA Cup goal for the Reds. His previous three were all scored away from Old Trafford, coming at Tranmere Rovers, Norwich City and at Wembley against Coventry City.

Bruno Fernandes has missed only one of the 23 FA Cup ties the Reds have played since he arrived at the club on 30 January 2020. That was our third-round home tie against Watford in 2020/21, and he’s since played in 19 consecutive Cup ties.

2024/25 FIXTURES

PL Tue 1Nottingham Forest (A) 7.45pm PL Sat 5Manchester City (H) 3pm

UEL Thu 10 Quarter-finals, 1st leg

PL Sat 12Newcastle United (A) 3pm

UEL Thu 17 Quarter-finals, 2nd leg

PL Sat 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 3pm PL Sat 26Bournemouth (A) 3pm FA 26/27 Semi-finals

PL Sat 10West Ham United (H) 3pm FA Sat 17 Final (N)

PL Sun 18Chelsea (A) 3pm

UEL Wed 2 1 Final (N)

PL Sun 25 Aston Villa (H) 4pm

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

Manchester United and Greater Manchester Police have very detailed emergency procedures and contingency plans in place to deal with any emergency scenario which might arise at the stadium. Part of these procedures can involve evacuation plans should such an eventuality be required. We strongly advise that should any unforeseen emergency incident develop then please remain in your position and listen carefully to any public address announcements or directions from the attendant stewards. Loudspeakers are located in the stands, concourse areas, hospitality areas, toilets and outside the stadium. Depending on the nature of the incident, whole stands, part stands or even the entire stadium may be evacuated. There is also an option to evacuate spectators on to the pitch. Our public address system operates on a stadium zone-by-zone basis. It may be that certain zones are affected by an incident but not others. In such an event our main attention will be focused on the zone concerned. If you hear an announcement in an area other than your own, you should ignore it and respond only to messages directed towards your section or by stewards. All spectators are asked to respond calmly and as quickly as possible to emergency directions.

MATCHDAY TEXT SERVICE

Help tackle discriminatory or offensive behaviour inside Old Trafford by texting HELP to 84222* followed by the STAND, ROW and SEAT of the offender and then the nature of the problem. Allow us to do the rest. *Texts are charged at the standard network rate.

A-Z quiz

We’ve got 10 questions to tackle in our V-themed alphabetical quiz, from Viollet to Villarreal via Vidic and Valencia. Very good luck to you!

Dennis Viollet scored 179 goals for the Reds – the same number as which member of the United Trinity: George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton or Denis Law?

In which season did Ruud van Nistelrooy win the Premier League Golden Boot?

Juan Sebastian Veron joined United from Lazio in which year? 2. 1. 5. 10. 8. 9. 7. 6.

What was the full name of the nation Nemanja Vidic represented at the 2006 World Cup (the only World Cup in which the team competed under that extended name)?

How many seasons did Antonio Valencia spend at Old Trafford: eight, 10 or 12?

Speaking of Valencia, which clinical frontman got his first European goal for United in a 2010 game away to the Spanish side?

Which club, currently in League One, were the opponents for Edwin van der Sar’s final game at Old Trafford?

Against which side did Robin van Persie net his first United hat-trick, in only his third game for the club?

Raphael Varane made his Reds debut and, two years later, scored his final professional goal against the same club – but who was it?

After four successive 0-0 draws, United’s long wait for a Champions League goal against Villarreal was ended with a stunning strike from which full-back in September 2021?

8. Southampton; 9. Wolverhampton Wanderers; 10. Alex Telles.

2. 2001; 3. 2002/03; 4. Serbia and Montenegro; 5. 10; 6. Javier Hernandez;

George Best;

Blackpool;